“My first impression of China came from this American movie from the 80s called “Big Trouble in Little China”. It portrayed China as a mythical place with people flying around, showing both folklore and some culture. I grew up with many different kinds of music so I recognize a broad range of styles. With Chinese music I experience a rich inner world. Chinese music to me sounds exotic, dreamy, and happy. I passively learned to compose Chinese inspired music from 1990 by listening to the traditional song “Fisherman’s Song at Dusk” which was performed by The Beijing Symphony Orchestra and the Frenchman Jean-Michel Jarre, published on the album “Concerts in China” (1982). I have since been fascinated by it. To go deeper, I started a long-distance course in Chinese Music in 2015. It was also at that time that I connected with a Chinese girl. We talked a lot, especially about how China will be in the future. Inspired by her, I composed a three-part song in Chinese style. From my impression in Chinese music, Chinese culture is active and formal, and people are not afraid of speaking out, whereas Norwegians are comparatively informal and shy, but they have a lot of stories to tell. I believe the two works well together as opposite; they complement each other. What I want to do with my music is to invite people to open up to each other’s culture, and to create opportunities for them to meet. Many times I feel that I am in between two cultures, not really belonging to either. I of course do not have a Chinese background, but at the same time I am not getting a lot feedback from the Norwegian audience. I feel I am doing this all alone, but to me this also works because I know I am creating something beautiful.”

The interview seriesis a project to explore the lives of individuals living in the intersection of the Chinese and Norwegian cultures, to show the similarities and contrasts, expectations and surprises, and the possibilities of synergy between the two cultures, experienced by individuals, one story at a time. 人物访问系列 以活生生的个人故事，探讨生活在中挪两个文化之间的人物，面对当中的协调与矛盾、期望与惊喜，以至互相补足提升的可能。